fish ecology

Coral reef fishes are among the most captivating and diverse groups of organisms on the planet. It is estimated that nearly half of all known marine fish species inhabit or rely on coral reefs at some point in their life cycle. And these fishes serve a variety of critical roles that define and structure the workings of coral reef ecosystems. For example, fishes modify benthic community structure, drive much of reef-based predator prey dynamics, and serve as conduits for transferring energy throughout the food web. And importantly, humans today interact with coral reef fish assemblages, with millions of people relying on these fishes for food security, sources of livelihood, and contributions to cultural value. The study of fish ecology on coral reef thus spans many perspectives and many questions, as we seek to advance our understanding of this diverse group of organisms.  

Our team is broadly interested in the field of fish ecology with a particular focus on exploring how humans and biophysical forces shape marine fish assemblages. Much of our research takes advantage of coastal ecosystems to serve as natural laboratories to gain ecological insights and contribute to effective fisheries management solutions. 

Select Publications in Fish Ecology

  • French, BJ, Zgliczynski, BJ, Bonito, L., Sullivan, C., Wood, CL, Haupt, AJ, Siu, G., Taiarui, M., Planes, S., & Sandin, SA (2024). Length-weight relationships for abundant coral reef fish species from eight islands in French Polynesia. Cybium. https://doi.org/10.26028/CYBIUM/2023-035. 

  • Akiona, A. K., Zgliczynski, B. J., & Sandin, S. A. (2021). Length-weight relationships for 18 coral reef fish species from the central Pacific. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jai.14249.

  • French BJ, Lim YW, Zgliczynski BJ, Edwards RA, Rohwer F, & Sandin SA. (2020). Decoding diversity in a coral reef fish species complex with restricted range using metagenomic sequencing of gut contents. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6138. 

  • Zgliczynski, B.J., G.J. Williams, S.L. Hamilton, E.G. Cordner, M.D. Fox, Y. Eynaud, R.H. Michener, L.S. Kaufman, & S.A. Sandin. (2019).  Foraging consistency of coral reef fishes across environmental gradients in the central Pacific. Oecologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-019-04496-9.

  • Zgliczynski, B.J., and S.A. Sandin. (2017).  Size-structural shifts reveal intensity of exploitation in coral reef fisheries. Ecological Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.09.045.

  • Caldwell, Z. R., Zgliczynski, B. J., Williams, G. J., & Sandin, S. A. (2016). Reef fish survey techniques: Assessing the potential for standardizing methodologies. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153066.

  • DeMartini, E. E., Friedlander, A. M., Sandin, S. A., & Sala, E. (2008). Differences in fish-assemblage structure between fished and unfished atolls in the northern Line Islands, central Pacific. Marine Ecology Progress Series. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07501.

Keywords: fish; coral reef; life history; length-weight, ecology; abundance; biomass